Things I wish I'd Known About Blogging

 

Next month I would have been blogging for a year and it has got me thinking about how far my blog has come since I first started and the things I wish I'd known back then.  I thought it will be good to share some of these things with you and hopefully you will find them helpful.

 

Photo's

 

When I first started blogging I didn't know a thing about photography.  I'm by no means an expert now but when I look back I can see how much my photography has improved I'm really pleased.  I now know to use a macro setting for close up shots, I know landscape photo's suit my blog layout better than portrait and to use a white paper background to get a better finish.

 

Social Networking

 

I really wish I had joined twitter as soon as I started my blog because it's a really great way to interact with other bloggers and find new blogs to read.  There are also chats held on certain days of the week which are really fun.  Initially I wondered how people managed to maintain their blog, You Tube, Twitter, Blog Lovin, Instagram and so on.. the list is endless but a lot of these are automatically updated for you and are really great to use when you're on the go.  I wish I'd joined all of them a lot sooner.

 

Bulk Posts

 

When I first started my blog I tried to write my blog posts at the weekend or in the evening after work but I found it a real struggle to keep up because I work long hours and never know exactly what time I will leave.  I now regularly take my photo's and write my blog posts in bulk which makes life a lot easier.  I really enjoy dedicating a whole day or weekend to blogging and it feels really rewarding to write up my posts.  I only ever write them in bulk if I'm finding it easy to write, though. If I ever have writers block or it doesn't feel like the words are flowing I stop because I don't want the quality of my posts to be affected.

 

Scheduling Posts

 

Being able to schedule posts is a God send. I remember the days when I used to struggle to try and publish my posts while I was on the train to work and blogger playing up and making things very difficult.  Now I can schedule my posts for any day or time I want.

 

Blog Layout

 

I've designed websites in the past so for me blog layout was always very important.  I knew I wanted a pink in my theme as this is my favourite colour and made my blog feel much more personal to me.  Being completely new to blogger I didn't know what it was capable of and it turns out there is a lot you can do.  With a little html knowledge, google search, friends and software for graphic design you can completely transform your blog and make it into anything you want it to be.

 

Business Cards

 

It may seem a bit odd to some people but having business cards to hand out when you go to meet ups and events are brilliant.  It is such a simple way to let people know about your blog and I love looking back through the cards I have collected when I get in. It makes the whole process more memorable and it is much easier to remember someone when you have a card to associate with them.

 

What do you wish you knew about blogging when you first started?

 

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Charles Worthington Full Volume Shampoo and Conditioner Review

I have used Charles Worthington hair products for many years but have never tried their full volume range.  As with all the shampoo and conditioners, the cute, professional, sleek packaging appeals to me.  The pretty pastel shades against the shiny silver band looks lovely and is perfect for a salon range.

The formulation of the full volume range is like any other shampoo - a silky cream that smells gorgeous when applied to my hair.  Charles Worthington are definitely one of my favourite brands for the scent of their products.  Whenever I use them I just want to keep smelling my hair! 

After using both the shampoo and conditioner my hair is left feeling very soft, smooth and hydrated.  My hair stays this way after blow drying and some volume is added from root to tip, however, I have found the next day there isn't much volume left and I do need to give my hair an extra boost to lift it a little again.

Although I love Charles Worthington products this isn't one of my favourites so I don't think I will be repurchasing it.  I will certainly use it up, though and try some of the others! I love the Moisture Seal range (read the review here).  You can buy the Charles Worthington Full Volume range from Boots, although the shampoo and conditioner don't seem to be on their website.

What do you think of Charles Worthington products?

 

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Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover Review

 

 

 

I’ve been on the market for a new eye makeup remover as my Simple one (read the review here) ran out and I needed a new one.  Once again, I left this until the last minute so I couldn’t order any Bioderma to try (I really must!) so instead I was on the hunt in boots again.  The product which caught my eye this time was the Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover.  The packaging is unusual as the bottle is an interesting shape and the formulation itself looked pretty through it’s transparent sides due to the dual colour effect.  It also looks slightly shimmery if you look closely.

 

Unlike the Simple eye makeup remover, this one is oil based which I must admit I’m not overly keen on as it can leave a greasy residue on your eyes but there wasn’t much on offer (it was only a small store) so I decided to give it a go.  Thankfully after using Nivea remover I found this wasn’t the case. Instead, my eyes were left feeling soft and smooth, maybe a little residue but nothing that couldn’t be wiped away with ease. The formulation is very gentle to my sensitive eyes but unfortunately this means it isn’t as effective as I would like at removing my makeup. Eyeshadow is removed with no problem but liquid liner and mascara is another story. After using several cotton pads there was still product on my eyes and in the end I actually gave up trying to get it off.

 

I’m usually a fan of Nivea products but unfortunately this eye makeup remover isn’t for me as it doeant work well with the products I use. Maybe it would be better with others. If you want to give it a go you can buy it from Superdrug for £3.29. Alternatively, I will be selling it cheaply on my blog as I won't be using it again. Email me if you're interested in giving it a go.

 

What do you think of this eye makeup remover? What is your favourite?

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The Body Shop Honey Mania Haul

So when I popped into The Body Shop recently to pick up a free hand cream with a voucher I had I spent some time browsing until I spotted the well talked about Honey Mania range.  I had actually forgotten all about it which is surprising because I am a big fan of honey scented products (I've raved about my love for the Lush honey bath bombs on here a few times.. I'm a little obsessed with them)
but have read quite a few blog posts about them so was intrigued.  As soon as I smelt it I was in love.  The scent definitely has honey tones but it isn't strong or overpowering and is actually dulled a little by some floral scents too... amazing. 

It was too tempting not to purchase some, the trouble was.. what ones? At first I opted for the bath melt because I've never tried that and it looked so luxurious... like liquid gold and then I picked up a body butter (standard, right?). After showing my boyfriend he responding with 'do you REALLY need another body butter?' to which I agreed.. They last an awful long time and I do already have the Peach and Coconut scents from the range but what could I get instead? That's when I spotted the exfoliator.. perfect! I didn't actually see it previously or even realise that they did them, it seems pretty obvious in hindsight, though.  So, I got those two products on the offer (buy one get one half price) and also popped in a lip balm for good measure which I used before I even got home.. it's gorgeous!

Well done on this amazing range The Body Shop.  I am SO happy this is a new edition to the permanent range! View the range here.

What do you think of this range?

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The Autumn Tag

I've noticed The Autumn tag doing the rounds and it looked fun so wanted to share my answers with you guys too!  If you fancy doing the tag as well leave your link below and I will check out your posts!

For Autumn, what is your...

1.  Favourite thing about it?  My favourite thing is being snuggled in the warm in front of the TV watching candles gently flickering, wearing super cosy, comfy clothes and seeing everything change from green to brown, red and orange outside.

2.  Favourite drink?  I love drinking drinking hot chocolate, it definitely reminds me of Autumn/Winter and is the perfect drink to warm you up.

3.  Favourite scent/candle?  I absolutely love candles and my two favourite scents at the moment are Oats and Honey by Bubbs and Dimples (see the review here) and A Child's Wish by Yankee Candle (in my favourites here).  These aren't really 'Autumn' scents but I love them!

4.  Best lipstick?  My favourite right now is Rebel by MAC but there are a few other lip products I've also been wearing (see my Autumn lip product posts here).  I've also bought a gorgeous berry shade by YSL that I can't wait to try.

5.  Go to moisturiser?  I've still been sticking to my Clinique Super Defense moisturiser.  It's very light and absorbs quickly.

6.  Go to colours for the eyes?  I'm definitely a neutrals girl and lately I've been particularly into the NARS Alhambra duo, All that Glitters, Patina and Satin Taupe by MAC.

7.  Favourite music or band/singer to listen to?  I am into a bit of everything really so I can't pick just one! It really depends on my mood and who I'm with.

8.  Favourite outfit to wear (i.e. boots & a scarf combo)?  My favourite outfit is either leggings or jeans with a jumper, boots, my Burberry scarf and a cute jacket (at the moment I'm loving flying jackets).

9.  Autumn treat?  New jumpers and boots :) New Look has some amazing ones right now and I recently splashed out on some ankle boots (see the post here).

10.  Favourite place to be?  At home with my family chatting in front of the TV and fire :)

 

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Essie It's Genius Review

I'm a big fan of Essie polishes and when I looked at my collection I came across one I haven't worn for a while.  I guess the only reason is because I've been wearing more pink and nude shades during summer and 'It's Genius' is more of an Autumn shade although it's so pretty nothing would stop me from wearing it all year around if I remembered I had it.

'It's Genius' is a gorgeous deep berry/purple toned polish that a subtle glitter running through it. This is one of my all time favourite nail polish shades.  It isn't too bright or too dark, it isn't plain but at the same time isn't too over the top either., it is the perfect metallic shade.  The formulation is what I would describe as 'normal' i.e not too thick or thin so you get flawless coverage with only two coats. As with most Essie polishes I have been impressed with how long this polish lasts without chipping.  When combined with both base and top coat it lasts around 5-6 days which is plenty for me as I change my nail polish weekly anyway.

You can buy Essie It's Genius from Boots for £7.99.

What do you think of the 'It's Genius' shade?

P.S I have a different colour on my ring finger in the picture above.

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Moroccan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before I start the review let me tell you a little about my hair type.  I have long, fine, naturally curly brunette hair which regularly gets styled whether it be an up do or something that requires heat such a straightening or curling.  I use heat on my hair most days of the week so I am keen to use as many nourishing products on it as possible to stop it from getting dry and damaged but something I haven't really splashed out on before is a fancy shampoo and conditioner... until now.

Moroccan Oil is a brand I expect most if not all of you have heard of before.  The first product I started to use in their range is the hair oil treatment which is amazing (read the review here) and if I'm honest, when I started using it I didn't realise they had other products in their range, I guess I just hadn't ever looked into it.  After a trip to my hairdressers I had noticed they had changed their products to Moroccan Oil and then the temptation begun.  I resisted buying the shampoo and conditioner for several months because of the huge price tag but eventually I gave in because in the long run I thought it could be better for my hair.

The Moroccan Oil shampoo and conditioners come in two variations, either to help add volume to your hair or to repair weakened and damaged hair.  Despite using heat on my hair I have been pretty lucky and it isn't badly damaged.  This probably has something to do with the fact I religiously use large amounts of heat protector and regularly get it cut.  Therefore, I was more inclined to try the volume range. Things didn't quite go according to plan, though.  My hairdresser only had the volume shampoo so I had to settle for one of each.  This is something I wouldn't usually do as I normally like them to be matching (weird I know) but the impatient side of me didn't want to wait until they came back in stock.

Anyway, home I went, a happy bunny, with my new Moroccan Oil treats in hand.  I've been using my new goodies regularly for the past two months and I love them.  Not only does the shampoo and conditioner give me the best of both worlds, volume plus repair but they smell a-mazing! I could quite happily smell them all day and thankfully the scent does linger on my hair for a little while after washing.  The formula of the Moroccan Oil shampoo and conditioner is no different from other brands.  It is simply a creamy solution that maybe needs a little more effort than usual to make it foam due to the fact it isn't full of chemical nasties.  As the formula is more concentrated than your average shampoo and conditioner you also don't need to use as much meaning it lasts longer, hurrah! For shampoo I use around a 10p size for each wash and for conditioner a 20p as I concentrate this mainly on my tips and work my way up with any excess.

The shampoo aims to add volume, revitalise hair and restore it with the antioxidant argan oil whereas the conditioner aims to nourish your hair as it contains argan oil, keratin and fatty acids as well as help de-tangle.  Something which I find great with my curly hair which is often a tangly mess after washing or sleeping on it. After using both products my hair is left feeling smooth and silky soft both when wet and dry.  After leaving my hair in a towel for a short while I always blow dry it and at this point my hair has a gorgeous shine as well as added volume from root to tip.  I've also noticed since using Moroccan Oil shampoo and conditioner my hair doesn't seem to get greasy as quickly and stays volumised for around two days, although not quite so much on the second day.

Since using these products several people have commented on how healthy my hair looks and I haven't changed any other products in my hair care routine.  This tells me that although these products are expensive, they have made a difference to my hair and were definitely worth a try.  I do really like them but my decision to re-purchase or not will depend on how long they last.  I've been using both regularly for around two months (in addition to my normal shampoo and conditioner occasionally) and to be honest when I pick them up they don't even feel like any product has been used.  I'm hoping they will last me a good few months in which case I will happily re-purchase but they are just too big an expense to purchase too often!

You can buy the Moroccan Oil shampoo and conditioner from Feel Unique for around £17.00 each.


Have you tried this shampoo and conditioner?

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Dior Addict Lip Glow Review

 

 

I really love Dior products.  From the layout of the counters, the packaging, colours and formulations.... I'm just drawn to them.  The first Dior product I bought was Dior Lip Glow which is surprising because never in a millions years did I think I would spend this much on a lip balm but I definitely don't regret it.

Dior Lip Glow isn't just any lip balm.  It is a colour awakening balm which means it reacts to the unique chemistry of your lips so looks different on every person according to your skin tone.  The formulation is a transparent buttery, soft balm that is extremely moisturising and hydrating on the lips, although it isn't particularly long lasting. The colour looks to enhance your natural lip colour so basically it is your lip colour but better, meaning it will suit every skin tone and makeup look. 

I cannot describe how much I love Dior Lip Glow.  It makes my lips very soft and smooth and is perfect to wear on it's own or under other lip products. It even includes SP10. The only downside for me is that it isn't very long lasting and as it is an expensive product I probably shouldn't re-apply it as much as I do but it's one of those products you just keep reaching for.

The packaging of Dior Lip Glow is stunning.  I love the baby pink casing against the silver tube and then the pretty pink balm itself.  This product looks and feels luxurious and expensive.  It will be a sad day when it runs out :(

You can buy Dior Lip Glow from Boots for £22.50.

What do you think of Dior Lip Glow?

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Autumn Nail Polishes

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn is here so I've swapped my pink polishes for my purple, berry and red shades and wanted to share some of my favourites with you.  Here goes:

Essie Bahama Mama

I love this polish and it is one I actually wear all year around.  The deep raspberry tones are gorgeous and this shade goes with a multitude of other colours so you don't have to worry too much about your nails clashing with your outfit (something I hate).  Bahmama Mama is gorgeous to wear both during the day and evening too... It's my favourite! Read the review here.

Essie It's Genius

This polish is a gorgeous purple shade with a metallic finish.  It has very subtle glitters which catch the light and looks lovely with both day and evening wear.  Every time I have used this polish people have commented on it.

Essie In Stitches

In Stitches is not a shade a would usually choose but it was on Fragrance Direct when I was buying other things so I thought I would give it a try.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The shade is a deep terracotta, salmon and is great to wear in Autumn.  It reminds me of leaves.

*W7 Bronze Debris

Bronze Debris is a perfect polish to wear over the top of plain bases to make them a little different.  It contains different sized gold, black and pale pink specs and glitters which look gorgeous.

OPI Diva of Geneva

This polish is a pretty deep purple shade with pink undertones.  It has a pearl finish so you can see a subtle gold shimmer when it catches the light.

 

 

What polish is your favourite for Autumn?

 

*PR Sample 

 

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September Favourites

 

You're probably fed up of hearing this but how on earth is it October already?! This year is rushing past far too quickly and before we know it I'm sure we will all be talking about Christmas... it's crazy!  I'm sad to see Summer has come to an end but  I am secretly looking forward to wearing my winter wardrobe and boots, which is pretty unlike me.

So here we are again, another monthly favourites! Sorry I skipped last month, things were crazy busy.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume shampoo and Conditioner

 

I've been loving the John Frieda Volume Shampoo and Conditioner over the past month. They leave my hair feeling soft and smooth, add volume and smell amazing. Read the review here.

 

NARS Alhambra Eyeshadow Duo

 

I adore neutral eyeshadow's and my most worn over the past month has definitely been the NARS Alhambra duo.  Both shades are perfect to wear during the day and evening, they blend beautifully and leave a gorgeous subtle shimmer over your lid. Read the review here.

 

Benefit Erase Paste

 

A couple of months ago I lost my Collection concealer.  I had used it when touching up my makeup a little in a public restroom and accidently left it in there.  Unfortunately, when I returned it was long gone.  The next day I was rooting around trying to find a different concealer to use and I re-discovered an out favourite of mine - Benefit Erase Paste.  I haven't stopped using it since. Read the review here.

*Bubb and Dimples Chillax Candle

I'm a little obsessed with candles, especially those with sweet or floral scents. Chillax ticks both of these boxes and I've really enjoyed using it over the past month.  I will really miss it once it is used up.  Read the review here.


Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy

 

 My go to perfume for the last few months has definitely been Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy.  This sweet, floral scent is one of my favourites and I have worn it both during the day and evening although it probably is a little more suitable for the latter. Read the review here.

 
Essie Bahama Mama Nail Polish

The start of Autumn marked a change in the nail polish colours I tend to wear.  Rather than my pastels and pink shades I tend to lean more towards darker berry shades.  Bahama Mama falls perfectly into that category and is definitely a favourite of mine. Read the review here.

Maybelline Baby Lips

I gave into the Maybelline Baby Lips hype last month and haven't looked back.  I've probably used 'Pink Punch' every day since then because I love it so much.  Baby Lips are very moisturising and this shade in particular gives a pretty pop of colour.  Read the review here.

 

What are your two September favourites?

*PR sample 

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